NexWafe

Investment Details

NexWafe is an innovative photovoltaic wafer manufacturer and technology developer based in Germany, originally spun out from the renowned Fraunhofer Institute.

NexWafe is transforming the industry with its patented direct gas-to-wafer process, which eliminates six costly intermediate steps. This breakthrough enables a product roadmap focused on ultra-high efficiency, with significantly reduced costs and environmental impact. NexWafe is positioned to compete with China on production cost, supporting economically sustainable reshoring: over 50% lower wafer costs, 75% less CO₂ emissions, and a substantial reduction in wafer weight.

NexWafe is undeniably powering the future of photovoltaics with the development of EpiNex® wafers designed to serve both today’s global solar industry and tomorrow’s most advanced use cases. For the mass market, EpiNex® delivers a new cost-performance curve—offering ultra-thin, high-yield wafers with lower energy use and material waste—supporting the rapid growth of solar toward terawatt-scale annual installations, expected before 2030.

At the cutting edge, EpiNex® enables breakthrough wafer and cell technology for next-generation applications including Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, High Altitude Pseudo Satellites (HAPS), and Vehicle-Integrated Photovoltaics (VIPV)—where ultra-light, high-efficiency performance is essential.